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The Preacher's Wife
Comments and Poems By Ruth R. Martin |
For years, February has been designated as Heart Month. Taking the cue from the outpouring of expressions of "love from the heart" on Valentine Day, the National Heart Association has adopted the same publicity to call to our attention the important matter of heart disease, its dangers and risks, prevention and treatment. Other organizations use the symbol of the heart to call attention to themselves. Stores have month long sales with red and pink hearts over every aisle and counter. Best of all, a vast array of Valentine gifts are offered in every store. You have to force your way up to the Valentine cards in order to join in the search for that perfect Valentine for the one or ones we love. We choose this special day to express our deep love and affection for those dear to us. There are cards of every description..funny, "mushy", simple, extravagant..something for everyone's taste. Then there are those tempting boxes of candy, heart shaped, square, oblong , ribbon or flower bedecked. And of course flowers, the universal language of love. A special favorite is a lovely, intimate candlelit dinner, with lacy or snowy tablecloth, roses or other favorite blossom. Even little kids love this day, bringing their sweet little tokens of devotion to those they love. Yes, we all love Valentine Day because it gives us the opportunity to express in some measure our love for those special people so dear to our heart. The undisputed symbol of this day is the heart..red, pink, gold, whatever..the heart is the natural choice. We speak of the heart as the seat of our emotions. The expression.."with all my heart"..is the fullest measure of love w can give. Yes, if the heart is the symbol, the one message is ..LOVE. Love in all it's facets: sweethearts, husbands and wives, parents and children, friends..on this one day the whole world... well, at least our own country.. resounds with love songs, is pampered with cards and gifts, is fragrant with perfumes and flowers, is indulged with candy and exquisite cuisine.
But there is a Love that so far surpasses the finest, the deepest, the purest and most devoted love of mankind, that there are no words or language, no action known to man that can adequately describe it or express its depth and width and breadth. Of course, I speak of the immeasurable Love of God. He loved us before we were born, because even then He knew our past, present and future. He knew when we would fail and fall, when we would be tempted and defeated, when we would break His heart with our waywardness. He knew all these things and He loved us anyway. He knew we were weak and incapable of righteousness, and of self- redemption. He saw us in our misery, in the dust of our hopelessness and He gave the supreme Valentine..the ultimate gift of Love. He gave His Son. When Jesus hung on the Cross at Calvary, when His blood poured red and warm from His broken, wounded body, when His life ebbed painfully away, with each beat of His holy heart, he sent the message to a lost and dying world. He sent His Valentine, and every throb of His weakened heart said, "I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU..I Looove youu-u-.....". till there was no more blood to be shed, no more heart beats to throb, no more breath to whisper His love. Ah, but His Valentine to us was not finished... Three days later, one listening might have heard beyond that huge stone, a rustling, a stirring, a faint beat, growing stronger and stronger and louder and louder and now the message echoes around the world. "I have defeated Death and I bring to you LIFE, my precious gift of Love bought at unspeakable cost. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU." And the song goes on...and on...and on...
Here is where mere words fail utterly and completely. The most eloquent orator, the most expansive vocabulary are as a babe's beginning speech . We stand speechless as we search for the right words. Beautiful enough, expressive enough, exalting enough, worthy enough. How can we—certainly how can I with my limited ability, ever begin to describe the Love of God? I clearly remember when I wrote this poem, when I was caught in the overwhelming tide of His mighty, unspeakable Love. I tried to set some words to rhyme and rhythm but could only begin to stammer and stutter as I realized what an impossible task it was. He has given us His Word, His love letter to us, telling us over and over and over in unfathomable measure of His Love. Finally, He proved it as He hung on a rough cross on Golgotha's brow and poured out His blood in Love-drops for our sin. Finally, defeated, I cease trying to find the words. I choose two familiar verses to serve as bookends for the volumes of His love. One bookend is: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16"
The other bookend is: "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God.. 1John 3:1"
Such Love
Such Love, such wonderful love is this!
Such Peace, such infinite peace is this!
Such Joy, abiding and deep is this-
The Love of my Lord for me.
Such Grace, such marvelous Grace is this!
Such Life, abundant and free is this!
Such Hope, such glorious Hope is this,
Till His face I see.
There are no words
That fully can express
The matchless wonder of
His perfect Righteousness.
I stand amazed and still;
My soul with rapture thrills;
I long to do the will
Of Him Who loves me.
I'll follow Him,
Though I can ne'er repay
The price He paid
To take my sins away.
His Praise I'll sing
Each step of this joyous way.
Such love!
Such marvelous, fathomless, deep
And unsearchable Love is this!
Such Love,
Such Love,
Such Love is this!
Ruth R. Martin
1973
Romans 8:28
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